By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer

ATLANTA - Joey Hamilton thought it might be time to give it up.

After the St. Louis Cardinals released him on March 26, he went home to suburban Atlanta.

"I contacted some teams," he said. "I had one big-league offer. But that fell through. I knew I could get a minor league job, but I wasn't sure I wanted to do it."

When the Reds made an offer, Hamilton thought it was a good fit. He figured Louisville or Cincinnati were relatively close to home. He was familiar with the Reds organization.

Wednesday, that decision looked pretty good because Hamilton was back with the Reds. Hamilton was brought up in case Jeff Austin faltered in a third straight start. Austin did just that, giving up four home runs in the first inning.

Hamilton took over and got the last out of the first. He went 5 2/3 innings, giving up nine runs on 12 hits.

Hamilton found out Tuesday night that he was coming up. He was operating on little sleep when he got to Atlanta.

"(But) I'm extremely happy to be here," he said.

Hamilton signed with Triple-A Louisville on April 11. He was 3-0 with a 2.36 ERA.

Hamilton, a 32-year-old right-hander, will be used out of the bullpen.

"We're so strapped. We really needed him," Reds manager Bob Boone said.

Hamilton is a candidate to go into the fifth starters role, although the Reds can get by until June 8 with a four-man rotation.

Hamilton was starting at Louisville. He was 2-0 with a 2.19 ERA in four starts. He went 7 2/3 and 7 innings in his last two starts, getting up to 106 pitches.

"My arm feels good," he said.

Hamilton was the Reds' Opening Day starter last year. He ended up going 4-10 with a 5.27 ERA.

The Reds tried to re-sign him, but the Cardinals offered a better deal.

"I really didn't want to leave," Hamilton said.

REITH OUT: Brian Reith was optioned to Louisville to make room for Hamilton.

Reith, a 25-year-old right-hander, was 1-0 with a 3.86 ERA in 12 games with the Reds. Reith pitched his way into the Reds' long-range plans.

"I was really pleased with him," Boone said. "(Tuesday night) was his first real challenge."

Reith pitched an inning of scoreless relief against the Braves in a 2-2 game.

The problem was Austin was starting Wednesday. Austin went 3 1/3 innings two starts ago and did not retire a batter in his last start.

Hamilton was Plan B if Austin struggled again. Plan B went into effect when it got to be 5-0 in the first inning.

The other option was Chris Reitsma, who also has options.

Reitsma gave up the game-winning home run to Chipper Jones in the 10th inning of Tuesday's 3-2 loss.

FREEL OUT: Ryan Freel was a late scratch Wednesday with a strained left hamstring. Juan Castro started at second base instead.

Freel is hitting .381 since being recalled from Louisville.

The difference between this stint and his first, when Freel hit .150?

"When we sent him down, I talked to him," Boone said. "I told him, 'I want you to get back to being aggressive and hit like you can.' The first time he was here he was hitting like he was trying not to make a mistake."

UP NEXT: The Reds are off today. They open a three-game series at Florida Friday.